Apparatus for separating liquids from wet steam

ABSTRACT

The apparatus includes a grid-like flow straightening means, a pressure reducer in the form of a perforated plate, and a separator for separating out the liquid. A wire mesh screen is also positioned between the pressure reducer plate and separator to provide an equalizing chamber for the steam leaving the plate.

United States Patent 11 1 Gutman Aug. 7, 1973 APPARATUS FOR SEPARATINGLIQUIDS [56] References Cited FROM WET STEAM UNITED STATES PATENTS [75]inventor: Viktor Heinz Gutman, Winterthur, 2,283,201 5/1942 Gillette eta1. 122/491 Switzerland 2,368,443 l/1945 Bierg 122/491 3,477,208 11 1969K II S 55 466 1 Assign: Brothers, Wimeflhur, 3,508,527 411970 Dari-Tr122/ 4s3 Switzerland 3,547,085 12 1970 Kovacik 122 491 3,593,500 7/1971Ritland et al. 55/269 [22] 1971 3,656,281 4 1972 Bansal etaL 55/484 [211APPl- 206,510 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS Related US. Appli a n ata978,465 l2/l964 Great Britain 55 490 [63] Continuation of Ser. No.882,038, Dec. 4, 1969, abandoned. Primary Examiner-Bomard NozickAttorneyFrancis C. Hand [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 4,1968 Switzerlaid ..2 ..-18071/69 57 ABSTRACT The apparatus includes agrid-like flow straightening [52] i g lg g means, a pressure reducer inthe form of a perforated 51 I t Cl Bold 46/12 plate, and a separator forseparating out the liquid. A i wire mesh screen is also positionedbetween the pres- 324,418,419, 486-481;,491, 183, 185, 186, DIG. 23;122/39, 483, 488

sure reducer plate and separator to provide an equalizing chamber forthe steam leaving the plate.

14 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENIw 3.750.371

- SHEET 1 BF 2 Inventor.-

V/KTOF? HE/NZ GUTMANN M M v 1? ORNEYS PATENTEB W3 75 saw 2 or 2Inventor: V H4 TOR HEINZ GUTMANN BY APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING LIQUIDSFROM WET STEAM This application is a continuation of copendingapplication Ser. No. 882,038, filed Dec. 4, 1969 now abancloned.

This invention relates to an apparatus for separatin liquids from wetsteam.

l-Ieretofore, it has been known to use liquid separators ininstallations such as nuclear reactors in which saturated steam must bedried before being suitable for use in a steam turbine.

Briefly, the apparatus for separating liquid from wet steam includes aflow straightening means, a pressure reducer to equalize the velocitydistribution across the flow path and a separator each of .which aredisposed across the flow path of the steam in succession in thedirection of flow.

In this arrangement, the combination of the pressure reducer and theflow-straightening means element tends to reduce the speed at which thesteam hits the separator. The volume of steam may also be more evenlydistributed over the flow cross-section.

Preferably, the pressure reducer comprises a perforated plate and ascreen downstream of the plate; the screen having finer perforations andproviding a lower pressure drop than the perforated plate.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways and twoembodiments will now be described by way of example with reference tothe accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an apparatus according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a view of a part of the apparatus on a larger scale;and

FIG. 3 illustrates a view similar to that in FIG. 2 of a second form ofapparatus.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus for separating liquid from wet steamis situated within a horizontal cylindrical vessel 1 (as is known)having a steam inlet orifice 2 in its lower portion at one end which isconnected, in a manner not shown, to a duct supplying the wet steamwhich is to be treated in the apparatus. The lowest portion of thevessel 1 has a cup-like protuberance 3 in which the separated liquidcollects and which communicates with a liquid discharge duct 31. Aplurality of plate-like separators 4 are for the separation of liquidfrom the steam passing therethrough positioned inside the vessel 1 eachof which consists of layers of metal fibars or wire, which may, forexample, be woven to form a metal fabric, and which extend oversubstantially the whole horizontal length of the vessel 1. Theseparators 4 are arranged in steps to form three tiers and are supportedat their edges on portions 5, 5' which are suitably attached topartitions in the vessel 1. The separators 4 can be extracted from thevessel 1 by moving axially, since one end wall is either completelydetachable or contains one or more removable portions. Between the topand center separators 4 and between the center and bottom separators 4there are bafi'les 6, connected to the portions 5, 5' in such a way asto produce three parallel flows of vapor.

The vessel 1 also houses tube assemblies 7, which consist of tube coilsextending in a direction parallel to and a flow-straightening element,and by means of which the speed of the wet steam supplied is reduced andequalized over the flpw cross-section before entering the separators 4.

Referring to FIG. 2, the device includes a grid-like straighteningelement 12 situated directly in front of the pressure reducer 11 asviewed in the direction of flow of the wet steam. This straighteningelement 12 is made up of flat sections 13 extending in the longitudinaldirection and flat sections 14 extending in the transverse direction,thus forming chambers 15 of square cross-section. The depth H of eachchamber 15 is slightly greater than its internal width W. The pressurereducer 11 is in three parts compiising a plate 16 with the longitudinalaxis of the vessel. A heating medium is 6 perforations l7 distributedevenly over the entire area of the plate 16, a fine wire gauze I8 and aflat spacer element 19. The perforations 17 in the plate 16 are arrangedto provide at least one perforation 17 for each chamber 15, for example,each chamber 15 has four perforations 17. The fine wire gauze 18 has alarger number of perforations per square centimeter than the perforatedplate 16. The spacer element 19 consists of very loosely woven wirenetting.

The dimensions of the pressure reducer 11 are such that the perforatedplate 16 produces the greatest pressure drop. The spacer element 19provides an equalizing chamber for the steam leaving the plate 16,before this steam passes through the fine wire gauze 18. As the steamflows through the gauze 18, the flow is further stabilized. A support 20downstream of the pressure reduce'r 11 is built up in the same way asthe straightening element 12 and cooperates with the element 12 to holdthe three parts of the pressure reducer 11 together. The straighteningelement 12, pressure reducer l l and support 20 are held at the edges ina frame 21 and can therefore be inserted in or removed from the vessel 1as a single unit. Alternatively, however, the frame may be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 3, the perforated plate 16 used in the pressurereducer 11 can have perforations 17' which are more closely spaced thanthose in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. For example, each chamber 15has nine perforations 17', which, moreover, are smaller in diameter thanthe perforations 17 above. Also, the support element 20 is replaced bysupport rods 22 which are held by wire loops 23 to the straighteningsections H (only one rod 22 and one loop 23 being illustrated). The wirein each loop 23 runs through the meshes of the wire gauze l8 and spacerelement l9 and through the perforations l7 and chambers l5.ln thisembodiment, the straightening element 12 also acts as a load-bearingsupport element to support the pressure reducer ll thereon.

What is claimed is:

I. An apparatus for separating comprising first means defining a flowpath for a wet steam;

a flow straightening means disposed within said first means in said flowpath, said flow straightening means including a plurality oftransversely disposed liquids from wet steam flat sections definingchambers therebetween of a depth slightly greater than the widththereof;

a pressure reducer downstream of said flow straightening means withrespect to said flow path for equalizing the velocity distribution ofthe steam across said flow path, said pressure reducer being disposedacross said chambers of said flow straightening means; and

a separator downstream of said pressure reducer for separating liquidfrom the steam in said flow path passing therethrough.

2. An apparatus for separating liquid from wet steam comprising ahousing defining a flow path for wet steam and having an inlet for saidwet steam, a first outlet for steam and a second outlet for liquidwater;

a planar grid disposed within said housing in said flow path, saidplanar grid including a plurality of transversely disposed flat sectionsdefining chambers therebetween of a depth greater than the widththereof, each said chamber having an inlet opening exposed to said flowpath for receiving a part of the wet steam;

a pressure reducer downstream of said planar grid with respect to saidflow path for equalizing the velocity distribution of the steam acrosssaid flow path, said pressure reducer being disposed across saidchambers of said planar grid and including a plate in contact with saidflat sections and having discrete perforations communicating with saidchambers to throttle the flow therethrough; and

a separator downstream of said pressure reducer for separating liquidfrom the steam in said flow path passing therethrough.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said pressure reducerfurther includes a screen downstream of said plate, said screen havingperforations of smaller size than said perforations in said plate toprovide a lower pressure drop in the flow of wet steam than said plate.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said screen is a wiremesh.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a flat spacerelement between said plate and said screen.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim wherein said spacer elementcomprises loosely woven wire mesh.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a supportdownstream of said pressure reducer for supporting said pressure reducerthereon.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 which further comprises a framesupporting said pressure reducer and said planar grid to form a singleunit.

9. An apparatus for separating liquid from wet steam comprising ahousing defining a flow path for a wet steam and having an inlet in saidhousing for said wet steam, an outlet for steam and an outlet for liquidwater;

a planar grid extending across said flow path downstream of said inletand including a flow straightening grid having walls extendingtransversely of each other to define apertures through said grid of adepth greater than the width thereof;

perforated plate extending across and superimposed on said grid havingapertures distributed evenly across said plate, at least one of saidapertures communicating with each one of said apertures of said grid;said apertures in said plate being of smaller diameter than theapertures in said grid;

and

plate-like separators extending across said flow path between saidperforated plate and said outlet for steam to separate liquid from thesteam.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 comprising a means forcollecting separated liquid in said housing and a liquid discharge ductcommunicating with said means and said outlet for liquid water.

11. An apparatus for separating liquid from wet steam comprising firstmeans defining a flow path for a wet steam;

a flow straightening means disposed within said first means in said flowpath, said flow straightening means including a plurality oftransversely disposed flat sections defining chambers therebetween of adepth greater than the width thereof; flat shaped element having aplurality of discrete perforations in abutment with said flowstraightening means on the downstream side thereof with respect to saidflow path for equalizing the velocity distribution of the steam acrosssaid flow path, said element being disposed across said chambers of saidflow straightening means and having at least one of said discreteperforations communicating with a respective one of chambers to throttlethe flow therethrough; and

plate-like separator of woven-fabric disposed across said flow pathdownstream of said element for separating liquid from the steam in saidflow path passing therethrough.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim ll which further comprises a finewire gauze connected to said flat shaped element downstream thereof.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said fine wire gauzeand said flat shaped elements are connected to said flow straighteningmeans.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 which further comprises a gridlike support abutting said fine WIIC test:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. DatedAugust 7, 973

Viktor Heinz Gutman Inventor(s) It is certified. that error appears inthe above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

wire gauze."

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of January 197A.

( E Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER, JR. RENE D. \TEGTMEYER Attesting Officer ActingCommissionerof Patents

1. An apparatus for separating liquids from wet steam comprising firstmeans defining a flow path for a wet steam; a flow straightening meansdisposed within said first means in said flow path, said flowstraightening means including a plurality of transversely disposed flatsections defining chambers therebetween of a depth slightly greater thanthe width thereof; a pressure reducer downstream of said flowstraightening means with respect To said flow path for equalizing thevelocity distribution of the steam across said flow path, said pressurereducer being disposed across said chambers of said flow straighteningmeans; and a separator downstream of said pressure reducer forseparating liquid from the steam in said flow path passing therethrough.2. An apparatus for separating liquid from wet steam comprising ahousing defining a flow path for wet steam and having an inlet for saidwet steam, a first outlet for steam and a second outlet for liquidwater; a planar grid disposed within said housing in said flow path,said planar grid including a plurality of transversely disposed flatsections defining chambers therebetween of a depth greater than thewidth thereof, each said chamber having an inlet opening exposed to saidflow path for receiving a part of the wet steam; a pressure reducerdownstream of said planar grid with respect to said flow path forequalizing the velocity distribution of the steam across said flow path,said pressure reducer being disposed across said chambers of said planargrid and including a plate in contact with said flat sections and havingdiscrete perforations communicating with said chambers to throttle theflow therethrough; and a separator downstream of said pressure reducerfor separating liquid from the steam in said flow path passingtherethrough.
 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein saidpressure reducer further includes a screen downstream of said plate,said screen having perforations of smaller size than said perforationsin said plate to provide a lower pressure drop in the flow of wet steamthan said plate.
 4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidscreen is a wire mesh.
 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 furthercomprising a flat spacer element between said plate and said screen. 6.An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said spacer elementcomprises loosely woven wire mesh.
 7. An apparatus as set forth in claim2 further comprising a support downstream of said pressure reducer forsupporting said pressure reducer thereon.
 8. An apparatus as set forthin claim 2 which further comprises a frame supporting said pressurereducer and said planar grid to form a single unit.
 9. An apparatus forseparating liquid from wet steam comprising a housing defining a flowpath for a wet steam and having an inlet in said housing for said wetsteam, an outlet for steam and an outlet for liquid water; a planar gridextending across said flow path downstream of said inlet and including aflow straightening grid having walls extending transversely of eachother to define apertures through said grid of a depth greater than thewidth thereof; a perforated plate extending across and superimposed onsaid grid having apertures distributed evenly across said plate, atleast one of said apertures communicating with each one of saidapertures of said grid; said apertures in said plate being of smallerdiameter than the apertures in said grid; and plate-like separatorsextending across said flow path between said perforated plate and saidoutlet for steam to separate liquid from the steam.
 10. An apparatus asset forth in claim 9 comprising a means for collecting separated liquidin said housing and a liquid discharge duct communicating with saidmeans and said outlet for liquid water.
 11. An apparatus for separatingliquid from wet steam comprising first means defining a flow path for awet steam; a flow straightening means disposed within said first meansin said flow path, said flow straightening means including a pluralityof transversely disposed flat sections defining chambers therebetween ofa depth greater than the width thereof; a flat shaped element having aplurality of discrete perforations in abutment with said flowstraightening means on the downstream side thereof with respect to saidflow path for equalizing the velocity distribution of the steam acrossSaid flow path, said element being disposed across said chambers of saidflow straightening means and having at least one of said discreteperforations communicating with a respective one of chambers to throttlethe flow therethrough; and a plate-like separator of woven-fabricdisposed across said flow path downstream of said element for separatingliquid from the steam in said flow path passing therethrough.
 12. Anapparatus as set forth in claim 11 which further comprises a fine wiregauze connected to said flat shaped element downstream thereof.
 13. Anapparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said fine wire gauze and saidflat shaped elements are connected to said flow straightening means. 14.An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 which further comprises a gridlike support abutting said fine wire